Program Overview

Natural Resources: Forestry, M.S.

The Natural Resources Master's degree with a Forestry option at the University of New Hampshire provides hands-on training to prepare students for careers and leadership in sustainable forest management and conservation. Students develop a strong foundation in forest resource economics, ecosystem ecology, and spatial analysis, along with advanced skills in forest measurement, forest health assessment, land management, and the use of quantitative and statistical analytical tools.

Program Overview

Through applied research and project-based work, often with field, laboratory, and analytical approaches, the program prepares students for leadership roles with government agencies, private industry, and environmental organizations focused on sustainable forestry and conservation, while also preparing them for doctoral study or research-focused careers across academia, government, and industry.

Curriculum and Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 30 credits for natural resources and the environment options, including forestry, environmental conservation and sustainability, environmental economics, ecosystem science, and wildlife and conservation biology. Course requirements include:

• Approach to Research (NR 903)
• Grant Writing (NR 905)
• Natural and Environmental Resources Seminar (NR 993)
• Natural Resource Education (NR 996)
• Select one of the following Data Analysis courses
  • Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of Experiments (ANFS 933)
  • Experimental Design & Analysis (BIOL 811)
  • Introduction to Applied Analytic Statistics (DATA 800)
  • Econometrics I (ECON 926)
  • Qualitative Inquiry in Research (EDUC 904)
  • Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences (ESCI 801)
  • Statistical Methods for Research (MATH 835)
  • Applied Regression Analysis (MATH 839)
  • Design of Experiments I (MATH 840)
  • Analysis of Ecological Communities and Complex Data (NR 909)
  • Hierarchical Modeling in Ecology (NR 913)
  • Quantitative Methods for Policy Research (PPOL 908)
  • Research Methodology and Statistics I (PSYC 805)
  • Research Methods and Statistics III (PSYC 907)
  • Sociological Methods I: Intermediate Social Statistics (SOC 901)
  • Sociological Methods III: Advanced Social Statistics (SOC 903)
• Select one of the following:
  • Master's Thesis (NR 899)
  • Directed Research (NR 998)

Accelerated Master's Option

The Natural Resources: Forestry (M.S.) program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with several undergraduate programs, including Community and Environmental Planning, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, Environmental and Resource Economics, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, and Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Students can earn up to 12 graduate credits while completing their bachelor's degree, which can be applied to both the bachelor's and master's degrees.

Student Learning Outcomes

The program has several key learning objectives, including:

• Demonstrating knowledge of theory and practice, as well as critical thinking skills and creativity, in conducting ecological, economic, and policy assessment of natural resource and environmental issues and developing solutions to environmental problems
• Employing field, laboratory, data analysis, and social science skills necessary to perform research concerning natural resources and their management
• Designing, proposing, and executing research addressing fundamental or critical issues in natural resources
• Contributing to scholarship through publication and presentation of research findings using diverse media

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines:

• Fall: February 15
• Spring: December 1
• Summer: Not available The application requires:
• Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions
• Letters of recommendation (3 required)
• Personal statement/essay questions
• GRE scores (optional)
• TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores (for international applicants)

Potential Career Areas

Graduates of the program can pursue careers in:

• Conservation
• Forestry
• Forest stewardship
• Geospatial analysis
• Parks and recreation management
• Private consulting
• Recreation management
• State and federal agencies
• Urban forestry management